Power-transmitting apparatus.



Llted Allg. 20, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

sHEEr 2.

T. S. PATERSON.

POWER TRANsMnnNs APPARATUS.

APPLICATlON FILED APR. 19| |911. l ,27 6,70 1 Patented Aug. 20

4 SHEETS- 1.5. PATTERSON. POWER TBANSMITTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APH. 19. 1.9!?.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

4%.. n y A T. S. PTTERSON.

POWER TRANSMITTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I9. 1917.

1.276,'70L Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ZW 67 IDM/fewo@ POWER-TRANSMITTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

Application led April 19, 1917. i Serial No. 163,193.

To all ill/'wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. PATTER- soN, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland and the Isle of Man, (having declared myintention of becoming a citizen of the United States,) residing inRosemont, Montgomery county, State of Pennsylvania,

have invented Power-Transmitting lApparatus,

of which the following is a speciication.

One @bject of this invention is to provide a device which will preventthe sudden application of power to a member or mechanism to be drivenand more especially to prevent the too rapid and injurious coupling ofan engine or motor to the wheels of a vehicle, either by reason of thecarelessness or intent of the operator.

I further desire to provide a combination of apparatus which shall becapable of automatically regulating the transmission of power from anengine to the wheels of a motor vehicle with' a view to acceleratin thelatter at a proper and suitable rate 1ndependently of the manipulationof the controlling apparatus by the operator, after the latter has movedthe power controlling member to its full speed position.

I also desire to provide a device which will require the lapse of adefinite predetermined time after a driven member, such as a wheel, hasbeen started before it is positively connected to a source of power.

Another object of my invention is to provide a form of accelerationgovernor which will automatically control the starting up of a machine,such as a motor vehicle, so as to permit unskilled handling of thecontrolling mechanism without damage to the mechanism and which, in thecase of such a vehicle, shall allow of the connection between the engineand the wheels being gradually and automatically accomplished at thespeed best fitted for the engine to drive the vehicle at whatever gearratio has been selected; the arrangement being such as to prevent the,driven member exceeding a predetermined speed as long as such speedwould be unsuited to the predetermined gear ratio.

I also desire to provide a novel system of apparatus for connectionbetween the prime mover of a motor vehicle and the wheels thereof whichshall include two devices, one a hydraulic mechanism designed totransmit power or become operative at speeds less than ve miles an hourfor example,y and the other capable of positively coupling the drivingand driven elements when the vehicle is moving at more than suchdefinite speed, but free to slip if abnormal or excessive torque isapplied.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter setforth, reference bemg had to the accompanying draw-z ings, in wh1ch:

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations, to some extent diagrammatic,illustrating my invention as applied to transmit power from an engine tothe wheels of motor vehicles of the gear-driven and chain-driven typesrespectively Fig. 3 is a Vertical section Ilially of the driving shafton the line 3 3, 1g. 4' r y Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are transverse verticalsections on the lines 4.-4, 5 5, and 6 6; respectively, Fig. 3;

Figs. 7 and 8 are longitudinal sections on the lines 7 7 and 8 8, Fig.4;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating a modication of onefeature of the invention; v

Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section of certain of the partsshown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11, Fig.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the above drawings, 1 and '2 represent the front andrear wheels of a motor vehicle -whose motive power is furnished by anysuitable prime mover, illustrated as an internal combustion engine 3which is shown as equipped with a Hywheel 4.- and a main clutch orcoupling device 5 of any desired construction. In the case of theapparatus shown in Fig. 1, the driven shaft 6 of the clutch extends intoa suitable casing 7 having any suitable form of change speed apparatus,usually gearlng, which includes a driven shaft 8 connected through auniversal joint 9 with a shaft section 10. From this latter, power istrans-` mitted through any desired clutching device l1 designed to slipwhenever the torque exceeds a predetermined maximum, thence through adevice l2 constituting one of the taken longitudi features ol' my inv'ention, to a shalt l5, through diti'erential gearing inonnted incasing lei, to the arles and to the rear wl ot which one is illustratedat 2.

the case ot a chain drive, the casing 27 with its change speed apparatusis omitted and the power troni the engine, alter transmission throughthe universal joint 9, te slipping clutch ll and the accelerationregulator l2, is intended to drive a rearwardly extending shaft '13awhich, through suitable gearing (not shown) actnates/a transverse shaftlila. rThis carries a pair ol" sprockets l5, each of which is connectedthrough a chain indicated at l?, to a sprocket 18, op erativelyconnected to a shalt or anle,on which is tired the rear Yvehiclewheels2a Referring to Figs/3 to 8, inclusive, willl he seen that the shaltsection i9 which is driven hy or iro-ni the slipping clutch il, entendsinto the device l2 which includes a plate coupled by loolts 2l to asleeve 22 attached in any suitable manner to the driven shaft 13, whichin the case illusH trated, is sho-wn as having a squared end slidablylitting said sleeve. Said plate 2O constitutes one end of a casinghaving a cylindrical inain portion 23 to which it is rigidly connectedhy a ring 2t held in place by suitable bolts or screws to :to-rin aliquid: tight joint. The end ot the shalt i9 eirtends into this casingthrough a iianged collar 25 bolted to or forming part of the saine andis shown as having integral with it generally cylindrical body lilaincluding two cylindrical portions 26 and 27 eccentric to its centerline and spaced apart hy a concentric portion formed with an annulargroove 2B.

'lllie concentric end portion of this body extends into a similarly:formed concentric recess in the sleeve 22 which has .hired in its end aplate 29, there being a bearing dish 29a inolosed hetween it and theadjacent tace or said body. Suitable bearing shells or bushings 3G and3l in which said shaft and body 19a rotate, are inserted between the endportion or the body and the sleeve 22, as well as between said shalt i9and the tace the collar 25. Frein Figs. ll, 7 and 8, it will be notedthat the plate 20 above referred to tornio part ot a casting including acylindrical portion 32 projecting concentrically within the casing 23and rotatable nnen the outer surface ot the llange or sleeve strnctureoi the collar 25. This cylindrical structurehas two sets of radialprojections each lorined with cylindrical cavities and 3l, extendingradially outward iroin the center line or the shat 19, there losing fourof such cavities in each set, ot which those indicatel at 33 areprovided with op r L: pir-vers 35 having t cavities 341- containplungers 36 having their inner ends operative upon the eccentric 2'?.

All ot the plungers have their inner ends square in transverse sectionand the plungers 35 have a trunnion or pin 37 projecting parallel to theshalt i9 into an annular groove 38 in a ring 39 mounted between theinner i'aoe ol' the sleeve 25 and the adjacent tace ofthe eccentric 26.Similarly the plungers 3G each has a projecting pin or trunnien l0extending into an annular groove ll termed in the body structure 19abetween the eccentrics 2G and 27. its a result ot this arrangement olparts, both Sets of plungers are at all times maintained with their endsin sliding engagement with their respective eccentrics so that whilebeing prevented :trono 'rotation in the cylinders 33 and 3l, t ley arecompelled to reciprocate therein vlien the shalt 19 is turned.

ils shown in llig. 6, there is termed between each pair oir thecylindrical cavities 33- and Sil, a radial valve cavity L2 connected toboth ot said cavities through Sports i3 and l-l, and in each or saidvalve chambers is a radially movable valve il5 having a transverse port#lo which in one position of said valve, is in line vwith the portsiS-andl-l and therefore permits communication between the adjacent pairof cylinders 33 and Sei. rlhe inner end ot each ot the valves 5 isorlred or slotted for thel reception oit a cam ring 53 and is providedwith a pin 452' eritending between its branches within said ring so thatrotation of the latter in one direction acts directly on the valves totorce them ont while rotation in the opposite direction causes it to actupon the pins 5a to draw said valves inwardly.

The outer end ot each of the valve charnloers is preferably closedby ascrew plug l? 'having through it a restricted passage i8 wherelcylirnited quantities of liquid may `rlow into or ont ol the valve chamberas the valve is moved. 'llie outer end ot each ot the cylinders 38 islilrewise closed by a screw plug t9 having in it a passage normallyclosed by an inwardly opening, springpressed checlr valve 5l while theouter ends oi the cylinders Bt are likewise equipped with passageshaving inwardly opening check valves o23-the arrangement of bothcylinders being suchthat liquid will new `into the saine troni thecasing 23 whenever the pressure in the latter exceeds that in saidcylinder, although no return of such liqnid is possible from saidcylinders.

With the above arrangement ol parts the cani ring 53 when turned througha predeterminedangle, will simultaneously move all ol" the valves from.positions in which y close or prevent communication leetween the portsand into positions in which th permit snoh communication or 'Ill viceversa, and for automatically actuating this cam ring, I provide a pairof oppositely disposed governor weights 54, pivoted to the casing bytransverse spindles 55 (Figs. 6 and 8) and having arms 56 respectivelyconnected to said ring by links 57.

As shown in Figs. 5 and S, each of the shafts 55 has non-rotatably fixedto it an arm 58 which, through a link 59, is connected to a second arm60 in turn fixed to a spindle 61 rotatably supported in a bearingprovided in the cylinder structure 32. Each of the latter spindles alsohas fixed to it an arm 62 connected to the piston rod 63 of a dash pot64. As shown in Fig. 4, the dash pots each consist of a cylinderpivotally connected at one end by a pin 65 to the outer portion of thecylinder structure 32 and having within it a piston 66 to which is ixedthe piston rod 63. Springs 67 within said cylinders normally maintainthe pistons at one end of the same and through the rods 63, links. 62,spindles 61, arms 60, links 59, arms 58 and spindles 55, normally retainthe governor weights 54 in their inner positions, (Figs. 4 and (3). Whenhowever said weights fiy outwardly, there is a resultant rotation of thecam ring 53 with a movement of the valves 45 which is retarded by thedash pots 64, it being noted that these are normally filled with liquidwhich is required to pass through restricted channels 68 in the pistons26 before the latter can move in said cylinc ers.

For limiting the possible inward movef ment of the governor weights 54as well as for adjusting their normal positions, l provide eccentrics70, (Figs. 6 and El), preferably mounted on rotatable threaded pins 71carried by the plate 20 so as to be' capable of engaging said weights,but normally held from moving by a jam nut 72. The outer ends of thesethreaded spindles 71 are preferably squared or otherwise formed topermit of their convenient rotation by a wrench, etc.

At points preferably 90o distant from the two governor weights 54 Iprovide on the cylinder structure 32 a pair ofv projecting brackets 73,(Fig. 5) whose outer portions provide bearings for spindles 74 to whlchare ixed arms 75. Each of these arms has fixed toit one end of a link 76, whose opposite end is likewise pivotally connected to a plunger orslide 77, radially guided through an opening in the cylinder structure32 so as to be capable of projection into engagement with the eccentric26 under certain conditions. Each of said arms 75 has rigidly fixed toor formed integral with 1t a weight 78 normally held in toward the bodyof the cylinder structure by a sprlng 79 which oifers a resistance totheoutward movement of said weight. One end of each of said springs engagesa plate 80 fixed to a .rod 81 mounted on a pin 82 which is carried by aneccentric 83- (Fig. 4). VThese eccentrics may be rotated by any suitablemeans to vary 'the force exerted by their reslides or plungers 77 isconnected to its link 76, is laterally extended over the adjacent camring 53. This latter has two suitably placed notches or recesses 85,Figs. 4 and 6, into which said pins must necessarily pass before theVtoggles 75-76 can move from their broken positions into their straight.ened positions since the edge of said can; ring normally engages'saidpins so as to ordinarily prevent such motion. In other words, before theweights 78 can act to straighten out their toggles and force in theslides 77, the cam ring 53 must have been rotated suiciently to bringits recesses 85 immediately under the pins 84.

It yis to be understood that under conditions of use the casingstructure 23 is partially filled with oil or other suitable lubricantwhich in greater or less quantities is likewise present within thecylinder structure 32, and in order that there may be a proper supply ofsuch lubricant delivered to certain parts where it is required, Ipreferably mount within the groove 28 of the body a pair of inclinedvanes or blades (Fig. 6) vdesigned to scoop up said lubricant from thelower part of the hollow of said cylinder structure ;-there beingchannels 91 extending through the body from the inner portions of saidvanes to a longitudinally extending channel 92 in the body 19a. One endof this channel communicates with a cavity in which is mounted thethrust plate 29a, while the opposite end through a small channel 93 isconnected to supply lubricant to the bushing 30. Other channels 94 and95 extend from the channel 92 into the various'cylinders 33 and 34.

Under'conditions of operation characterizinga vehicle or other mechanismequipped with the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 or 2, the engine would bestarted and the clutch 5 thrown in, in the customary manner; the levercontrollin the change speed gear mechanism within the casing 7, Fig. 1,having been previously set at any desired speed or gear combination.Under these conditions the shaft 19 is started from rest and turned atan increasing speed with the result that the various pairs of plungers35 and 36 Vare reciprocated in thelrcylinders 33 and 34. Since one ormore pairs of said cylinders are lled with liquid, and since theeccentrics 26 and 27 are set 130 apart, this reciprocation of theplungers causes liquid to be forced at each revolution from that one ofthe cylinders 34 for example which happens to he lowermost, through theintermediate valve into the adj a-ceiit cylinder 33.. The various partsare so designed that as the shaft 19 reaches and passes a predeterminedspeed, the friction of the liquid in the valves and ports renders itincreasingly diflicult for the plungers 35 and 36 of the respectivepairs to be reciprocated and as a consequence the cylinder structure 32with its attached parts and the shaft 13, is carried around thesamedirection as the shaft 19, thereby starting the wheels 2 and moving thevehicle carried by them.

As the speed of said shaft is still further y increased, the speed ofthe cylinder structure 32 and the shaft 13 likewise increases, until apoint is reached where the centrifugal force acting on the weights 54causes these to swing outwardly on their pivots 55, against theresistance of the mechanism to which they are connected and particularlythat ofthe springs 67 of the dash pots. rlhere is therefore a partialrevolution of the cam ring 53 in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 6) anda consequent partial cutting ed of the communication between the variouspairs of ports 43 and 44 and of the cylinders 33 and 34. This throttlingof the 'l dow of liquid between the cylinders of each pair, results inthe cylinder structure 32 with its attached parts and the shaft 13 beingcarried around at a gradually increased speed, until when the governorweights 54 have reachedV their extreme outer positions, the valves 45have so far been moved outward lasv to completely cut on communicationbetween the ports 43 and 44.

The various plungers 35 and 36 and hence the cylinder structure 32, andthe shaft 13, are now hydraulically locked tc the shaft 19, so thataside from such small amounts of slip as may be due to leakage, saidshaft is turned at the same speed as the shaft 19. lt is noted that thisoutward movement of the weights 54 and the operation of the valves 45 isVVprevented from occurring :it an objectionably high rate of speed byreason of the action of the dash pots 64 which requires a certain amountof time to be consumed regardless of the speed of revolution of theshaft 19 and its attached parts, since the liquid in the dash potcylinders has' to pass through the restricted openings 63 in the pistons66.

By the time that the cam ring has been turned far enough tohydraulically lock together the two shafts 19 and 13. its recesses 35have heen brought radially into nec/egel line with the pins 84 so thatthe weights 73 are allowed to swing out as said pins enter theserecesses against the action of the springs 7 9.

rThe slides or plungers 77 are thus moved inwardly into engagement withthe eccentric 26 and owing to the slight slippage between said eccentricand the cylinder structure 32, one of them will shortly move insutiiciently to permit of its toggle 75-76 assuming a straight position,whereupon the shaft 19 will he positively locked to the cylinderstructure 32 and to the shaft 13.

llnder practical conditions, the various parts are so designed that thetwo shafts 19 and 13 may be hydraulically locked when the vehicleattains a predetermined speed, such for example as live miles an hour,and said parts will be positively or mechanically locked-together at aslightly higher speed, such as six miles an hour.

Obviously with such an arrangement of parts it is an absoluteimpossibility for even the most careless operator to so connect theengine or motor to the wheels as to injuriously overload it or causeinjurious strains to any of the parts, since the driving and drivenmembers cannot be positively connected until they have attained theparticular speed proper for the gear ratio selected. lf an abnormal loadshould be applied to the wheels 2 or other driven mem; ber, the clutch11 will slip, thus permitting the engine 3 to continue operation withoutstalling.

lf at any time the speed of the apparatus should fall to a.predetermined point, (in the case illustrated to six miles an hour), thesprings 79 as well as the decrease of centrifugal force acting on theweights 78, will cause the latter to move inwardly, thus automaticallyunlocking or releasing the positive connection between the shafts 19 and13, and as the speed is still further decreased, the weights 54 willlikewise move in under the action of the springs 67., gradually openingcommunication between the various pairs of cylinders 33 and 34, andpermitting increasing slip between the members 19 and 13, until theshaft 13 is no longer turned. f

llVith such an arrangement of parts, a vehicle will start without suddenjars and there can he no spinning of the rear wheels: it being' obvioustf it it can be driven with the change speed gear set in high 7 or atany other combination of gears at speeds less than five rriles an houror at and under any other relatively low predetermined speed.

lt is especially to be noted that the aca tion of the apparat-us is-absolutely automatic in gradually bringing the vehicle up tc thepredetermined speed for which the Illl pai

change speedgearing is set without jar or l1ab1l1ty of injury to any ofthe parts.

` While the casing 23 is only partially illed with lubricantor otherliquid, so that after standing idle for some time certain of thecylinders will be emptied, the .apparatus will none the less operatesince the cylinders and their associated cavities are quickly iilledowing to the entrance of the liquid past the check valves and 52.

In order to adapt my apparatus for use in connecting a driven member to'a driving member where the speed of the latter is at all timesmaintained constant by a governor or other means on said driving member,I may modify the apparatus to the.

extent shown in Figs. 9 and 10, connecting one or more of the cylinders34 and 35 through a exible conduit 100 to the cylinder of the dash pot64. In such case the piston of said dash pot would not be provided withpassages as in the other casel illustratedand the conduit 100 wouldinclude a check valve 101 whereby iow of fluid would be permitted onlyin a direction from the cylinder 34 to the dash pot 64, the latterhaving also a check valve 1'10 whereby liquid is permitted to escape-from said cylinder in front of the piston 66 but is prevented fromiiowing into said cylinder. The head 111 of said cylinder has mounted init an inwardly opening valve 112 having a tubular stem through whichpasses a headed rod 113 fastened into the piston 66. This latter has aspring 114 mounted on said rod in position to hold the valve 112 seatedwhen said piston occupies its external position practicallyvinengagement with the head 111.

With this arrangement of parts, if it is desired to connect a drivingshaft running at 100 R. P. M., for example, with another shaft, whilethe weights 54 would not fly out when the apparatus was first started,the continued operation of the plungers in the cylinders 34 and 35 willshortly cause flow of small quantities of liquid through the conduit 100to the dash pot from the cylinder connected thereto, thus graduallyforcing the piston 66 away from the head 111, the valve 112 being heldclosed by the spring 114. As a result the various 'links and levers 62,54, etc., connected to the dash pot piston rod 63, as well as the camring 53, are shifted as previously described, causing a gradual closingof the valves 45 and a throttllng of the passages 46 between thecylinders 33 and 34 of the various pairs. The cylinder structure 32 andthe driven shaft 13 connected thereto are thereupon put in motion andgradually brought up to speed until iinally the vvarious parts afterbeing hydraulically coupled will be positlvely connected as previouslydescribed.

It is noted that as the dash pot piston 66 approaches the end of thecylinder 64 distant from the head 111, the head of the rod 113 engagesthe stem of the valve 112, opening the latter and allowing the liquid insaid cylinder to escape. This however does not affect the elementsconnected to the piston 66 since it as well as they are maintained intheir displaced positions with the valves 45 closed owing to the effectof centrifugal force on the weights 78.

1. The combination of a driving and a driven member; automaticallyacting hydraulic means for connecting said members; and mechanical meansfor positively connecting the members after said hydraulic means hasacted to a predetermined extent.

2. The combination of a driving and a driven member; hydraulic means forautomatically connecting said members; and automatic mechanical meansfor positively locking the members together after the hydraulic meanshas operated.

3. The combination rof a driving and a driven member; automaticallyacting means for non-positively coupling said members when the speed ofthe driven member is below a predetermined amount; and automaticallyacting means ior positively locking said members together when the speedof the driven member exceeds said amount.

4. The combination of a driving and a driven member; positive andnon-positive devices for connecting said members; and means for insuringthe elapse of a definite time after the non-positive device has actedbefore the positive device can act.`

5. The combination of driving and driven members; automatic non-positiveand positive devices for connecting said members; and means independentof said devices for preventing the positive device from acting untilafter the non-positive device has acted.

6. The combination of driving and driven members; automatic non-positiveand positive devices for connecting said members; and means independentof said devices for preventing the positive device from acting untilafter the non-positive device has caused the driven member to acquire adeli'nite speed.

7. The combination of driving and driven members; automatic non-positiveand positive devices for connecting said members; and means independentof said devices for causing the positive device to operate after thenon-positive device.

8. Thel combination of a source of power; a driven member; a changespeed gear connectedto said source of power; and a device between thechange speed gear and the driven member for causing power to begradually applied to the latter.

ll. 'lhe combination ci a source ot power;

a driven member; a change speed gear connected to the source orF power;vvith an accelerationrgcvernor connected between said change speed nearand the driven member.

l2. The combination ci a driving and a driven member; automatic speedcontrolled means for non-positively connecting,` said members vvhen thedriving member is operated; and means 'for positively connecting y themembers after the driven member attains a predetermined s'iceed. Y

i3. The combination of a driving and a driven member; an automaticdevice for non-positively connectingu said members "when the drivingmember is operated; means igor preventing action ci said connectingmeans in'less than a predetermined time; and a device iior positivelylocking together said members at the end ci said time.

lei. rlhe'combination .of a driving and a driven member; an automaticdevice for connecting said members when the driving member is operated;means for preventing* action of said connectingn means in less thanpredetermined Ytime; with speed responsive means 'for automaticallylocking said members togetherwat the end ci said time.

l5. The combination ci driving and drivenjmembersya devicel forgradually and automatically connectingsaid members when the drivinifmember is actuated; with a mechanical device for positively locking,1said members together when the4 driven member has been brought toapproximately the speed of the driving; member.

' lo. The combination or driving and driven members; cylinders andplnngers respectively Yconnected to said members; speed responsive valvemechanism orautomati cally controlling the flow ci duid between thecylinders; and means for automatically regulating the speed or operationoi said valve mechanism.

i7. rhe combination oi driving and driven members; cylinders andplungers ren sloectivcly connected to said members; speed responsivevalve mechanism or automatically controlling the :dow ci fluid betr/eenthe cylinders; and a speed responsive de- ,L f* I.. rains denmte speed.

l vice for positively locking together the driv- ,itil

i8. The combination of a drivingn and a driven member; tvvo sets oi?cylindersconnected to one ci said members; tivo sets of piangereconnected to the other member; valve mechanism controlling the dow ci.dnid betvveen the cylinders ci 'the two sets; a centrifugal governordevice for actuating,` the valve mechanism; and a dash pot forregulating the sneed oi' operation of the governor..

i9. The combination of driving and driven members; a iluid clutchingdevice tor transmitting pov/er betvveen said members; automatic valvemechanism-for controlling the operation of the cludtchinggu device; anda speed responsive mechanism tor positively' locking together the partsof the clutching device when they are operatingV at substantially thesame speed. V

20. 'lhe combination ci driving and driven mem ers; a duid clutchingdevice for transmitting pov/er between said members; automatic valvemechanism for controlling the operation oit the clutching device; and aspeed responsive mechanism for positively locking together the parts orpthe clutching,` device when they are operating at substantially the samespeed, thev same including a Weighted member; a locking velementactuated thereby; and toggle mechanism connecting said element and saidmember.

2l. The combination ci.2 driving and driven members; a duid clutchingdevice for transmitting power between said members; automatic valvemechanism for controlling lthe operation oit the clutching device; aspeed responsive mechanism for positively locking together the parte orthe clutching device when they are operating at substantially the samespeed; and means for preventing Yoperation ci said locking means untiltheY driving and driven members are operated at substantially the samespeed.

22. ',lhe combination oit' driving and driven members; a fluid'clutching device for 4transmitting1 novver betvveen said members;automatic valvemechanism for controlling 'the operation oi" Ytheclutching device; a speed responsive mechanism ior positively lockingtogether the parts of the clutching device when they are operating atsubstantially the same sliced; with means for preventing ciperation cisaid locking means until the driving1 and driven members havesubstantially the same speed, consisting oi a structure moved by theoperation or the clutching device; and a member normally prevented frommovement by said structure.

23.. The combination of a drivin; .0a and a driven member; a structurehavingn tvvo sets ci' cylinders and comcected to one ora said m mbeplungers iior said cylinders; tvvo eccentrics connected to the meer andoperative on said plim- J... 'l .i3 i

s controilin the dov? or duid oclil@ isc

it to bring the valves to predetermined positions when the speed of oneof the members reaches a definite point.

24. Thev combination of a driving and a driven member; a structurehaving two sets of cylinders and connected to one of said members;plungers for said cylinders; two oppositely set eccentrics connected tothe other member and operative on said plungers; valves controlling'theiow of fluid between the cylinders; a cam structure for actuatin thevalves; a speed responsive weighte element connected to said camstructure for causing it to bring the valves to predetermined positionswhen the speed of one of the members reaches a definite point; and adevice for delaying movement of the valve mechanism.

25. The combination of a driving and a driven member; a structure havingtwo sets of cylinders and connected to one of said members; plungers forsaid cylinders; two oppositely set eccentrics connected to the othermember and operative onv said plungers; valves controlling the iiow ofHuid between the cylinders; a cam structure for actuating the valves;weighted element connected to said cam structure for causing it to bringthe valves 'to predetermined positions when the speed of one of themembers reaches a definite point; and a weight-controlled device forlocking said two members together normally prevented by thecam'structure fromoperating until .the latter occupies a definiteposition.

26. The combination of driving and driven members; hydraulic clutchingmeans for connecting said members; controlling mechanism for saidclutching means; and a device actuated by fluid from the clutching meansfor operating the controlling mechanism.

27. The combination of drlving and driven members; hydraulic clutchingmeans for connecting said members; means for positively connecting saidmembers; controlling mechanism for said clutching means; and adeviceactuated by iiuid from the clutching means for operating the controllingmechamsm.

28. The combination of driving and driven members; hydraulic clutchingmeans .for

a speed responsiveY connecting said members; a valve for controlling theaction of said clutchin means; and a device actuated by Huid rom theclutching means for operating said valve.

29. The combination of driving and driven members; hydraulic clutchingmeans for connecting said members; controlling mechv anism for saidclutching means; a cylinder connected to receive iuid from the clutchingmeans; a plunger for said cylinder; vand mechanism operated by thevrelative movement of the plunger and cylinder for actuating thecontrolhng means.

30. The combination of a driving member operating at a constant speed; adriven member; hydraulic clutching means for connect' ing said members;automatic mechanism for gradually causin .said clutching means to couplesaid mem ers, includin means for governing the iuid flow in saidclutching means; and a device actuated by fluid from the clutching meansfor operating said governing means.

31. The-combination of a driving member operating at a constant speed; adriven member; hydraulic clutching means for connecting said members;automatic mechanism for gradually causing said clutching means to couplesaid members, including means for governing the fluid liow in saidlclutching means; and a device actuated by fluid from the clutching meansfor operating said governing means; with a weighted member formaintaining the governing means ina deflnite condition while the drivingand driven members are coupled.

32. A fluid transmitting device consisting of a driving and a drivenmember; a hydraulic clutching device for connecting said members andincluding a structure having a relatively restricted fluid passage; withmeans actuated by iuid from said clutching device for varying the crosssection of said passage to cause gradual operation of the clutchindevice and coupling of the driving and riven members.

38. A Huid transmitting device consisting of a driving and a drivenmember; a hydraulic clutching device for connecting said members'including fluid propelling means anda relatively restricted fluidpassage; a valve for varying the flow through said passage; andmechanism actuated by fluid from the clutching device for o erating saidvalve.

In witness whereof I a X my signature.

THOMAS S. PATTERSON.

